Hartal observed in Karimganj

Karimganj Bazar Banik Samity called the hartal.

Shops and business establishments, banks and government and non-government offices remained closed during hartal hours. No buses or trucks plied on the roads while Chamra river port, the only gateway to haor areas of six districts, came to a standstill during the strike period.

Several hundred protesters ransacked the Brac office, damaged a bus and besieged the offices of Upazila Parishad and Upazila Nirbahi Officer during hartal hours.

The Karimganj Rural Electrification Association subscribers hung torn shoes at their electric metres during hartal hours.

Life has become miserable due to continuous power outage, said Banik Samity president Md Mojibur Rahman.

'We get power for three to five hours at best from early morning to 11pm while we have to face at least 12 to 20 power outages during the period,' he said.

Banik Samity secretary Bulbul Chowdhury expressed his determination to continue the agitation until realisation of their demand. He threatened a tougher agitation if the authorities concerned fail to ensure smooth power supply in the upazila.